Adjustable tubing hanger and stuffing box support



Nov. 14, 1939. CONAGHAN 2.179.814

ADJUSTABLE TUBING HANGER AND STUFFING BOX SUPPORT Filed May 25, 1938 4Sheets-Sheet 1 a W 24 I ummm INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 14, 1939. B. F.CONAGHAN ADJUSTABLE TUBING HANGER AND STUFFING BOX SUPPORT 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1938 l INVENTOR ATTORN EY NW. 14, 1939. BF. CONAGHAN I 2.179.814

ADJUSTABLE TUBING HANGER AND STUFFING BOX SUPPORT Filed May 25, 1938 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Watented Nov. H4, 1939 v WED sTATasBilly F. Eonaghan, Tonkawa, @hla.

Application May 25, 1938, Serial No. 209,962

bending stresses imparted to the rodswhere they extend through thestumng box at the top of the well tubing. This dificulty is broughtabout principally through misalignment of the beam hanger of the pumpingunit with the center of the well casing, For example, the pumping unitmay not have been properly located with respect to the well hole, or thefoundation may have shifted through settling of the ground, throwing thebeam hanger out of alignment with the well, or the well casing or tubingmay be out of plumb which throws the stufling box out of alignment withthe beam hanger. The result is that the polish rod section ofthe-pumping string buckles and bends during reciprocation through thestumng box in its attempt to follow the area- 25 the rod also increasesthe power required in operating the rods, and causes extensive wear andstrain upon the parts of the stufing box and tubing hanger, consequentlythe parts soon fail and require shutting down of the well to make thenecessary repairs. In extremely deep wells, where a long stroke isdesirable, these conditions are aggravated by reason of the long,arcuate sweep of the beam which is required in producing the desiredstroke. I

It is, therefore, a principal object of thepresent invention to providea tubing hanger and stumng box support that is adjustable relatively tothe casing so that the polish rod of the pumping string may be kept inalignment with the beam hanger of the pumping unit.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide a tubing hangerof this character which is of simple and relatively inexpensiveconstruction; to provide a tubing hanger which permits of adjustment ofthe tubing and at the same time efiectively supports the tubing andseals against loss of well pressure; and to provide a tubing hanger andstumng box support arranged so that the polish rod is located in anyselected position relatively to the axis of the casing,

It is also an important object of the invention to level the tubinghanger with respect to the casing head.

In accomplishing these and other objects of ate movement of the walkingbeam. Bending of the invention, I have provided improved details ofstructure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein: i

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pumping well 5 equipped with a tubinghanger and stufling box support embodying the features of the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the tubing hanger and stumngboxsupport on the line 2-? 1c of Fig. i.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line t-t of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the parts of the tubing hanger indisassembled spaced relatlon relatively to the casing head of the well.

Fig. 5 is a section through the stufling box union on the line t-t ofFig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the parts of the union shownindisassembled spaced relation.

Fig. '7 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modifiedform of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line M of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through a still further modified form ofthe invention.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on the line IUW of Fig. 9. 1

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the form of invention illustrated inFig. 9 and showing the parts in disassembled spaced relation to betterillustrate their construction.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

l designates a casing of an oil well having a casing head 2 whichcarries a tubing hanger 3 that suspendinglysupports a tubing 5 withinthe casing i. The tubing 5 projects above the hanger and is providedwith a T-fitting 6 for connecting a flow line I through which 011 isdischarged from the well, 'Carried by the fitting 6 is a union 8 thatmounts a polish rod stumng box to close the upper end of the tubing fordiverting the oil through the'flow line i.

Reciprocable within the tubing 5 is a string oi sucker rods including anupper polish rod ll! slidable within the stumng box and projectingtherefrom to connect with the reins i! of a stirrup it. The stirrup i2is suspended'from a beam hanger IS on the walking beam M of a pumpingunit 65. The pumping unit I! includes a. base frame It that is bolted toa concrete foundation i1 and carries aprime mover ii! for reciprocatingthe beam i4 through a transmission l9, crank 20,

and a pitman M, as in conventional practice.

The structure thus far described is conventional to present day wellpumping equipment and, if the stroke is not too great and the beamhanger l3 centered over the well, operates satisfactorily in pumping oilfrom the well. However, errors may have occurred in constructing andlocating the foundation |1 so that the base frame I6 is not properlyaligned with the well, with the result that the beam hanger I3 is notpositioned directly over the axis of the casing Consequently the polishrod l must bend or flex at the point where it passes through thestufllng box upon each oscillation of the beam I4 on its fulcrum. Eventhough the foundation l1 and pumping unit I 6 were originally installedwith the beam hanger l3 properly aligned with the axis of the casing,the ground may shift or the foundation settle sufficiently to causemisalignment of the hanger l3 with the axis of the casing. The polishrod therefore bends and binds during oscillation of the beam. Binding ofthe polish rod is also aggravated when the beam is operating to producea long stroke on the rods for the reason that the hanger shifts amaterial distance laterally of the well axis to follow the arcuatemovement of the beam. As above pointed out, it is a principal object ofthe present invention to construct the tubing hanger and stuff ing boxsupport to'adjustably locate the polish rod in axial alignment with thebeam hanger and thereby reduce tendency of the polish rod to bend at thepoint where it passes through the stufilng box,

In carrying out the invention, the tubing hanger 3 includes a ring-likebody or bowl 23 having a substantially frustro-conical exterior aligningwith the axis of the casing and provided with a frustro-conical bore orslip seat 25 having its axis offset with respect to the axis of thecasing as best shown in Fig. 2. Depending from the bowl 23 is an annularcollar 26 conforming in diameter to the inner diameter of the casing andhaving an outwardly and downwardly flaring periphery for seating withinan annular groove '21 of the casing head 2 as in conventional practice,and which has a lower face 28 seatingly supported above the shoulder 29of the groove 21.

In some installations the shoulder 29 of the casing head may be out oflevel with respect to the perpendicular, with the result that the bodyor bowl 23 tilts and to overcome this difiiculty I provide a pair ofadjusting washers or shims 30 and 3| that are of greater thickness onone side than the other so that when they are rotatably positionedrelatively to each other, the tubing hanger is brought to a levelposition. A packing ring 32 is inserted between the upper shim 3| andthe seating face 28 of the collar 26 to sealingly engage with thecylindrical wall of the groove 21 for preventing leakage from the casingabout the periphery of the tubing hanger.

The bowl 23 is retained in concentric relation with the axis of thecasing by set screws 33 having their shanks threaded in radial openings34 of the casing head for engaging the flaring periphery of the collar26. Since the bore 25 is ofi center with respect to the axis of thecasing, the body of the hanger may be adjusted so that the bore willcover any cross-sectional area of the casing by simply turning the body23 relatively to the casing head.

Seated within the tapered bore 25 is a slip carrying ring 35 having atapered outer face corresponding with the taper of the bore 25. Formedin the ring 35 in' laterally offset relation with the axis of thetapered exterior face 36 is a downwardly tapering bore 31 for mounting aset of slips 38. The slips 38 have inner, arcuate faces 39 provided withteeth 48 adapted to engage the periphery of the tubing incidental tocontraction of the slips about the tubing as the slips move downwardlyin the bore 31 under the weight thereof. It is thus obvious that theeccentric relation of the slips with respect to the axis of the ring 35provides for location of the tubing in any position within the casingmerely by rotating the body 23 with respect to the casing head androtating the ring 35 with respect to the axis of the body 23.

Sleeved over the tubing and seated within a cylindrical upper extension4| of the bore 25 is a packing ring 42. The packing ring 42 is formed ofresilient" material and has an opening 43 conforming in diameter to thetubing, and is offset relatively to the axis of the exteriorcircumference in the same manner as the eccentric relation of the slipreceiving bore. The packing is compressed by a follower ring 45 havingan eccentric opening 46 which freely passes the tubing, and has an outercircumference that fits within the upper portion of the bore 25. Thefollower ring is urged into pressing relation with the packing by ananchoring ring 41 having a concentric opening 48 in registry with theaxis of the bore 25. The anchoring ring is of suflicient diameter tooverlap thebore extension 4| and is provided with openings 49registering with threaded sockets 56 in the body 23 to pass fasteningvdevices such as cap screws The union 8 includes a coupling flange 52having an axial collar 53 that is threaded as at 54 to the upper end -ofthe tubing. Extending through the coupling flange in axial registry withthe tubing is a bore 55 for passing the polish rod Formed in the upperface of the flange is a recess 56 for seating a packing washer 51.Adjustably supported on the packing washer 51 is an upper flange 58having an axial opening 59 of larger diameter than the opening of thelower flange to accommodate the polish rod upon positioning of the stuifing box 9. Extending upwardly from the flange 58 is an internallythreaded collar 60 to threadingly mount the tubular body 6| of thestuffing box. The flange 58 is retained on the packing ring by aclamping ring 64 having an inner diameter 65 somewhat larger than thediameter of the collar 60 and an outer diameter substantially conformingto the diameter of the flange 52. The ring 64 overlies the upper face ofthe flange 58 and is drawn into clamping relation therewith by fasteningdevices such as bolts 66 which extend through openings 61 in theclamping ring through notches 68 in the flange 58 and throughregistering openings 69 in the flange 52, as shown in ,Fig. 2, thenotches 68 being of suflicient size to permit adequate adjustment of thestuffing box.

The body 6| of the stufflng box has an internal annular shoulder 18 forseating a series of packing rings 1| that are sleeved over the polishrod and retained in sealing relation therewith by a follower 12 pressedby a spring 13 engaging under an inwardly extending annular flange on acap- 'like nut 14 that is threaded on the upper end of the stufiing boxbody. The spring 13 has suflicient action tov normally retain thefollower 12 in sealing relation with the packing rings to preventleakage of well fluid through the stufling box incidental toreciprocation of the rods.

. In assembling the parts described, the body 23 of the tubing hanger isapplied to the casing head to seat upon the packing 32, the shims and itbeing adjusted to level the body 23 and retain the axis of the bore 25in perpendicular position. The slip carrying ring is then in serted inthe bore 25. The tubing is then run into the well through the bore ofthe ring 35 as in conventional practice. It is possible that the axis ofthe tubing will not align with the beam hanger and in this case the bodyof the tubing hanger is rotated so that the axis of the bore 25 comesinto as close alignmentwith the beam hanger as possible. Furtheradjustment of the tubing may be made by rotating the bushing ring withinthe bore 25 so that the axis of the bore Bl is as near in registry withthe beam hanger as possible. The slips are then inserted in the conicalbore of the ring 35 and moved into gripping engagement with the tubingwhile the tubing is being supported. Upon release of support for thetubing, the weight of the tubing, settling into the slips, efiectssuficient gripping action to suspend the tubing from the hanger. Thepacking ring #2 is then sleeved over the upper end of the tubing andmoved into the cylindrical portion M of the bore 25 to seat against theupper ends of the slips, after which the follower ring 35 is sleevedover the tubing and moved into engagement with the packing ring, thefollower ring being placed over the tubing so that it will enter thecylindrical portion M in the same manner as the packing ring. Theanchoring ring ll is then applied over the end of the tubing and locatedso that the openings therein register with the threaded sockets in thebody of the tubing hanger. The cap screws are then applied and drawntight to compress the packing ring and prevent leakage through thetubing hanger about the periphery of the tubing and between the slips.The union 8, which includes the flange 52, eccentrically positionedflange 58, and clamping ring 6 15, is mounted on the upper end of thetubing, after which the body of the stufiing box is applied to thecollar 58 and the rods are run therethrough into the well. The packing Hand gland it are then inserted in the body of the stufiing box, followedby the spring 13 which is compressed to move the packing uponapplication of the cap M. It is possible that the polish rodv may not bein alignment with the beam hanger and to complete alignment thereof thebolts 66 may be loosened so that the collar may be shifted laterallyuntil the polish rod is in perfect registry with the beam hanger. Thebolts 66 are then tightened. The polish rod is then connected with thereins ii to complete the assembly.

Upon actuation of the beam the rods are reciprocated through thestuffing box with a minimum bending tendency for the reason that theaxis of the stufing box aligns with the beam hanger and the pull on therods is directly therethrough. Should the beam be thrown out ofposition, as in the instance of shifting or settling of the foundation,realignment may be obtained by adjusting the flange 58 to position thestufilng box with respect to the axis of the tubing. Should thisadjustment not be sumcient then the tubing may be adjusted within thehanger by rotating the hanger body 23 thereof within the casing head andadjusting the eccentric bushing ring in the bore 25. The adjustment ofthe flange it may be effected merely by loosening of the bolts 66,shifting the flange and retightening the bolts, however, the adjustmentof the tubing hanger must be efiectedby lifting the tubing to loosen theslips by gripping the tubing with a suitable elevating mechanism (notshown).

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8 is substantiallythe same as in the preferred form with the exception that the eccentricbushing is'omitted and the slips l5 are shaped to conform to the conicalbore of the tubing hanger. The common axis of the gripping faces of theslips is located so that it is eccentric with respect to the bore 25 toeffect adjustment of the tubing in substantially the same manner as thepreferred form, however, the construction of the slips is made moredifficult because of the off center relation of the arcuate grippingteeth. In other respects the parts are identical and the designatingnumerals applied to the preferred form are also applied to thecorresponding parts a respect to the axis of-the casing by rotating thebushing ring within the bore 16. The tubing is then adjusted withrespect to the axis of the bore 18 by rotating the slips within the boreuntil the tubing is in desired position. This form of the inventionrequires an outer packing ring 80, having its outer periphery conformingto the upper diameter of the bore 56 and having an eccentric opening 8|corresponding to the eccentricity of the bore 18 as shown in Fig. 9.Engaged within the opening 81 of the packing ring is a second packingring 82 having an opening 83 for accommodating the tubing which conforms to the eccentric relation of the teeth of the slips. The innerring 82 is retained in compressing relation with the tubing and with theupper ends of the slips by a similarly shaped follower ring 84 which isurged in compressing relation with the packing by an outer ring 85conforming in diameter to an annular flange 86 projecting from theperiphery of the hanger as shown in Fig. 9. The ring at has an inneropening 81 corresponding in eccentric relation with o the eccentricrelation of the bore 18 and retained by an inwardly extending flange 88on aligning openings 90 and 9! in the ring 85 and flange 86respectively, the packing rings are drawn into sealing contact with eachother, a with the eccentric bushing and with the upper ends of the slipsto prevent loss of fluid through the tubing hanger.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a tubing hangerand stufflng box support which may be, readily adjusted to position thetubing in the casing and the polish rod within the tubing so that thepolish rod may be kept in alignment with the beam hanger, therebyreducing the amount of weave and bending tendency incidental toactuation of the beam.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a supporting member having acentral opening and an eccentric opening for passing a cylindricalmember, an adjusting member in said eccentric opening and having aregistering opensaid eccentric opening in the supporting member, slipscarried in the opening of the adjusting member for engaging saidcylindrical mem ber, and means drawing the adjusting member into sealingengagement with the supporting member including means for sealing saidslips.

2. In a device of the character described, a supporting member having acentral opening for passing a cylindrical member and an eccentricopening, an adjusting member in said eccentric opening and having aregistering opening arranged with its axis ofiset with respect to theaxis of said adjusting member and adapted to be moved over the eccentricopening of the supporting member to adjust one of said openingsrelatively to the other, gripping means carried in the opening of theadjusting member for engaging said cylindrical member, and means drawingthe adjusting member into rigid. engagement with the supporting member.

3. In a device of the character described, a bowl, means supporting thebowl in concentric relation'with a casing head, tubing supporting slipseccentrically positioned in the bowl, a tubing'carried in said slips, arod reciprocable in the tubing, a stufiing box for said rod, and meanssupporting the stufling box eccentrically with respect to the tubing.

4. In a device of the character described, a

bowl having an eccentric tapered bore, a slip supporting memberrotatably seated in the eccentric tapered bore and having a tapered boreeccentric with respect to the axis of the tapered bore in said bowl,slips seated in said tapered bore of the slip supporting member, packingmeans received in the tapered bore of the bowl and resting upon the slipsupporting member, and means for pressing the packing into sealingcontact with a tubing supported in said slips.

5. In a device of the character described, a bowl having an eccentricbore, a slip supporting member rotatably seated in the eccentric boreand having a tapering bore eccentric with respect to the axis of theeccentric bore in said bowl, slips seated in said hereof the slip supvporting member, a packing ring received in the bore of .the bowl andhaving an eccentric open-' ing registering with the slips and restingupon the slip'supporting member to seal said slips with respect to thebowl, a follower ring and having an eccentric opening registering withthe opening of the packing ringsupported on the packing ring, a clampingring on the follower ring, and means connecting the clamping ring withthe bowl for pressing the packing ring into sealing contact with atubing supported in said slips.

ing arranged with its axis offset with respect to 6. In a device ofthecharacter described, a bowl having a tapered bore eccentric withrespect to the axis of the bowl, a slip supporting member rotatablymounted in said bore and having an eccentrically positioned slipreceiving bore, slips in said last named bore, a packing ring seated inthe bore of the'bowl and resting upon the slip supporting member andhaving an opening concentric with the slip receiving bore, and meanspressing the packing ring to effect a seal about a tubing supported insaid slips.

7. In a device of the character described, a bowl having a boreeccentric with respect to the axis of the bowl, a slip supporting memberrotatably mounted in said bore and having an eccentrically positionedslip receiving bore, slips in said last named bore, a packing ringseated in the bore of the bowl and resting upon the slip supportingmember and having an opening concentric with the slip receiving bore, afollowerwasher engaging the packing ring, a clamping member seated onthe washer, and fastening devices securing the clamping member forpress? ing the packing ring to effect a seal about a tubing supported insaid slips.

8. In a device of the character described, a bowl having aneccentrically positioned tapered bore, a slip carrying ring in said boreand having a slip seat, slips in said seat having gripping facesarranged eccentrically with said bore, a

packing ring having an eccentric opening and seated upon the slips, andmeans for pressing the packing ring into sealing engagement with atubing carried by said slips.

9. In an apparatus for positioning a sucker sucker rod within thetubing.

10. In combination with a casing, a tubular member and a rotksupportedtherein, of means for adjustably positioning the rod in the tubularmember including a support on the casing, a pair of eccentric memberscarried by the support and arranged one within the other, means on theinner eccentric member for grippingly engaging the tubular member, astufling box engaging the rod, and eccentric means shiftable on thetubular member and carrying the stufling box.

BILLY F. CONAGHAN.

